Category Archives: Mediterranean Sea

World Nomad Travel Writing Apprenticeship

Posted on by By Vivienne DuBourdieu

Have you ever wanted to be a published travel writer? Well here’s your opportunity.

View from Kandomma Holiday Inn lounge in the Maldives. Photo VDuBourdieu, 2010

View from Kandomma Holiday Inn lounge in the Maldives. Photo VDuBourdieu, 2010

BikeHike Adventures and Rough Guides have teamed up with WorldNomads for their 2011 Travel Writing Scholarship Contest.

The Winner Takes on a 22-Day Work and Play Assignment in Turkey!

WorldNomads is accepting applications from aspiring travel writers to enter an essay contest themed around travel.

The winning entrant will kick-start their travel-writing career by exploring Turkey for 12-days of multi-sport adventure with BikeHike Adventures.

Afterwards, the apprentice will spend two days being mentored by a Rough Guides author, followed by a four day solo assignment.

One person will be selected to travel, all-expenses paid, to Istanbul to work with Terry Richardson, author of The Rough Guide to Istanbul, as he researches a new edition of his book.

Prior to meeting and working with Terry, the winner will enjoy a total immersion in Turkish culture with Trish Sare, founder and Director of BikeHike Adventures.

On BikeHike’s 12-Day Turkish Delight tour, highlighting many of Turkey’s iconic gems, there will be a plethora of multi-sport activities.

Cirayli coastline, near Olympos, Turkey. VDuBourdieu 2001

Cirayli coastline, near Olympos, Turkey. VDuBourdieu 2001

You will explore the fairytale landscape of Cappadocia by mountain bike, foot and horseback; stroll through Istanbul, visiting the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and the Palace; and go sea-kayaking on the Mediterranean.

Candidates, 18 and older, can be journalism students, emerging and non-professional writers or simply lovers of travel looking for a career change.

Applications will be accepted until the March 28, 2011 deadline. For complete details and easy online entry please visit WorldNomads.com. Travel will take place from June 7 to June 28, 2011.

Entrants must have a high degree of proficiency in written English, be comfortable travelling on their own, have a current passport and be an exceptional writer.

To apply, entrants must write a 500 word, travel-focused essay based on a personal experience related to: Responsible Travel, Journey in an Unknown Culture or My Big Adventure.

Two young Turks: Gokhan and Javed in Pataya, Turkey. VDuBourdieu 2002

Two young Turks: Gokhan and Javed in Pataya, Turkey. VDuBourdieu 2002

The winner of the scholarship contest, along with the best entries received will be published on the WorldNomads.com website on April 28th, 2011.

About BikeHike Adventures Inc.

Named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure Magazine in 2008 and 2009, BikeHike specializes in small group multi-sport adventures in South and Central America, Canada, Europe, Oceania, Asia and Africa.

BikeHike is committed to sustainable tourism practices that benefit local communities and environment in the destinations they serve, and actively supports projects that help raise cultural and social awareness around the world.

Summer Gazpacho

Posted on by By Vivienne DuBourdieu
Summer gazpacho. Photo: VDuBourdieu©2008

Summer gazpacho. Photo: VDuBourdieu©2008

(Originally published in singlesfood.com)

A friend of mine was in hospital, and the operation went a bit wrong. There was an awfully long silence; then she said she couldn’t eat anything.

A couple of days later, I got an urgent text in response to one of mine; an offer to smuggle in some decent food (she wouldn’t eat the hospital food even when she could eat).

“Can eat now,” she said. Uh huh… The next text said, “Iced soup would be wonderful!” That gave me just two hours to rustle ups something appetising.

Yikes. No chicken stock, no blender, no leeks, and no buttermilk in answer to the first things I thought of, i.e. cool chicken and lemon soup, vichysoisse (leek and potato), or cucumber and buttermilk. What, then?

Tomatoes are a passion of mine, so of course there were some of those and, even better, there was a full carton of organic tomato juice in the fridge. Not to mention a cucumber, and a couple of peppers – one red, one green.

I moistened their skins with a little oil ,and popped the peppers in a hot oven until they blistered. Then I wrapped them in the tinfoil they cooked on until they cooled, and removed the skins, pith and seeds. I chopped the red one finely, and threw that into the tomato juice. Then I added the peeled, finely chopped cucumber.

Looking at the windowsill, basil and chives waved at me. I nicked some basil leaves and tore them into my mixing bowl of soup, and cut in some chives with sharp scissors.

Anything else? Yes, the juice of half an organic lemon, a little sea salt, and a toss of fennel seeds – for digestive purposes. Wow! After tasting it, I simply had to eat a small bowl of it immediately.

The rest went into a couple of glass jars, wrapped in coloured tissue paper like presents. I took a soup spoon, as well, so that she could retreat somewhere unobtrusive – out of the way of eagle-eyed nurses – and sup on soup.